Marching Forth!

" It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD , saying, "Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron ." 2 Samuel 2:1 After the death of King Saul, David inquired of the LORD where he should go.  His place in Ziklag had been burnt with fire, and David wisely sought insight from the LORD concerning his next course of action.  He provides a good example for all who fear God in asking a specific question and did not act on the matter until he received a definite answer.  If we are honest concerning our prayers, we may discover we do not ask many definite questions.  If this is the case, we should not be surprised when a clear answer does not come. We are not told exactly how God spoke to David, but the text makes it evident God did speak and David heard Him.  In the previous book we read Abiathar, son of the high priest, ha...

I appreciate a person who "says it like it is," a straight-shooter who does not hint or allude to the truth but boldly speaks it.  Every man has his flaws and makes mistakes, but there should be no doubt about what he believes.  In this increasingly subjective and politically-correct age, people are wary of being transparent with their beliefs.  The problem often isn't a lack of thinking before speaking, but of thinking so much we stop short of saying what we really think.  This hollowed version of truth does little to present a viable consideration for belief. One thing I love about the Bible is the objective nature of it.  It states how things were, are, and will be.  Nature itself is governed by laws which cannot be broken.  There are absolutes which are unchanging, and to alter these absolutes even a fraction (not that man has this capacity) would mean utter catastrophe.  There are facts governing this world we inhabit, and one of the great...

" And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you .'" Acts 27:22-24 I was greatly encouraged to hear Paul describe his relation to God as " to whom I belong and whom I serve ."  People often try to "fit in," and even when these efforts seem successful it is a far cry from belonging.  Paul had been purchased with the blood of Jesus and his life was not his own, but he was not only a servant:  he eternally belonged to God. Paul was able to encourage his fellow shipmates in the midst of a raging tempest not to lose heart, for the God to whom he belonged had sent a message of deliverance.  God sent the message first to encourage Paul and also for the benefit of the crew...

Several years ago I went to a cricket test match for the first time.  I was struck by the number of warnings against "antisocial behaviour" at the Sydney Cricket Ground which said all who persisted in such behaviour would be removed from the venue.  Acts of violence, drunken or disorderly conduct, obscene language or threats directed at others, basically any hostility towards other patrons was not permitted.  There is an amount of drinking and sledging (good-natured ribbing) at any cricket match, but it was only permitted in the spirit of the game without becoming "antisocial." There are no such rules governing the use of social media, which I have found to be growing increasingly antisocial in every way.  What was once a novel and useful tool to connect people has been leveraged to drive people apart.  It used to be in social gatherings common courtesy and polite to avoid camping on emotionally charged subjects (politics and religion were often cited as ch...

Recently I heard of a young woman's passing at the age of 21.  Cancer previously in remission came back with a vengeance, and her graduation to glory was sudden and unexpected.  The only solace her friends have in this time of loss is the knowledge this woman chose to place her faith in Jesus Christ, having received the Gospel which saves to the uttermost ( Hebrews 7:25 ). A mate of mine who knew her well spoke about his grieving process, how his mind went to their last interactions, his sorrow and tears.  He thought about how in her brief life there are many things she never had the opportunity to experience:  to graduate from university, to be married, bear children, or own a home.  Despite the sadness, he was able to discover joy in the knowledge her days of pain are over for good, for she had a hope in the Gospel which is greater than a cure for cancer.  Because of the assurance provided in the Bible through Jesus, this dear girl now rejoices in the ...

I have been reading through Tozer's Pursuit of God  and have found it insightful and thought-provoking.  I like a man who does not only point out problems but holds forth the biblical solution.  While there is no shortage of self-proclaimed watchmen these days, those who cultivate the presence of God are surprisingly few.  After acknowledging the reality of God and our need for utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit, Tozer follows it up with the responsibility of man to labour to seek God and be receptive to His voice.  I find this convicting because of my own lame efforts yet encouraging at the same time because of the assurance provided by God in His Word.  Tozer wrote: " Receptivity is not a single thing; it is a compound rather, a blending of several elements within the soul.  It is an affinity for, a bent toward, a sympathetic response to, a desire to have.  From this it may be gathered that it can be present in degrees, that we may have li...

Wisdom is no good to us when unheeded.  In the book of Proverbs, Wisdom is personified as a woman calling aloud to all who will listen.  She raised her voice in the city gates and main thoroughfares, reproving the foolish and the scorner.  There is great grace in her boisterous approach, for she sought out and addressed people who were unlikely to listen.  It seems for the most part Wisdom's voice was ignored and scorned by those she warned and instructed. Her response to their stubborn folly is revealed in P roverbs 1:24-31 :  " Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 because you disdained all my counsel, a nd would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 when your terror comes like a storm, a nd your destruction comes like a whirlwind,  w hen distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; ...